PIL seeks event data recorders in buses, trucks

A PIL has been filed in the Madras High Court bench here seeking to direct the Union and Tamil Nadu governments to mandate heavy vehicle manufacturers to install event data recorder (EDR) at the time of production itself as it would act as a deterrent against rash driving in highways.
A bench comprising Justice M Jeychandran and Justice S Vydhyanathan ordered notice to the Union Road Transport and Highways Secretary and the State Transport Secretary.
Petitioner T Darbar Raja, who wanted the device to be installed in cars, trucks and buses at the time of manufacturing itself, submitted that EDRs were installed as per rules in USA, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada.

It was necessary to install them in India also in view of the benefits including exhibition of all the information during and after the crash. With the device in their vehicles, drivers would certainly avoid rash and negligent driving, he said.
Evidence from the EDR also had helped the courts in Australia, Canada and UK to convict the rash and negligent drivers.
The EDR data would even help to improve the vehicles and make them more safe, he added.